End of week catch-up
It has been a busy week with lots of great birding too, so here is your update for the weekend.
It has been a busy week with lots of great birding too, so here is your update for the weekend.
The White-spotted Bluethroat continues to show occasionally and briefly at Middle Point, and is also heard singing. Head down to the end of the Summer Walkway and view from the Shepherd's Hut. Remember to remain quiet in the area for the best chance of hearing or seeing the bird. Members are able to access the walkway from 8:15am via the Members' Gate - please have your membership cards ready for inspection.
Zeiss Hide
The drake Garganey in eclipse plumage can be found with 14 Teal on the Top New Piece. Also here are a flock of 42 Lapwing, a white male Ruff who has moved here from the South Lake, two Oystercatcher, six Shoveler, 64 Avocet and broods of Shelduck and Mallard. The Bittern was seen in flight and landed in the reedbed towards the Kingfisher Hide. The bird was also seen on Wednesday.
Additional birds yesterday on the Top New Piece included a flock of 37 Redshank, including at least two fledged juveniles. The two remaining Spoonbills arrived over high tide, so look for them again today here or from Middle Point if the tide is low. Over the fence on the Bottom New Piece are several other fledged juveniles, along with a few fledged juvenile Lapwing too.
Hogarth Hide
The Crane family were here this morning with two chicks on the Duck Marsh. A Green Sandpiper was feeding around the water's edge and a Cetti's Warbler was singing. Yesterday a juvenile Grey Wagtail was also seen.
South Lake (Discovery Hide)
Two male Ruff, in full breeding plumage of one white and one black, were on the wader scrape this morning along with 87 Black-tailed Godwit, a pair of Little Ringed Plover at their nest, four Oystercatcher, five Redshank, five Lapwing, 11 Teal, and a drake Shoveler. Later in the morning the two breeding plumage Spotted Redshank reappeared. On the deep lake were a drake Pochard and 58 Gadwall. A Kingfisher flew through.
Yesterday a pair of Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were on the deep lake. We're starting to see many juvenile Black-headed Gulls leave the nesting islands and spreading out across the deep lake and wader scrape.
Kingfisher Hide
The Barn Owl was again hunting around the Bottom New Piece field.
